Hakim Ziyech has been named in Morocco's World Cup squad after missing the Africa Cup of Nations due a fallout with the former national team head coach.

Vahid Halilhodzic opted to leave Chelsea playmaker Ziyech out of the squad for last the AFCON at the beginning of this year, explaining "Ziyech's behaviour does not fit the selection."

Ziyech responded by retiring from international football in February, but Halilhodzic's dismissal in August opened the door for a possible return.

New boss Walid Regragui reintroduced Ziyech into the squad for two friendlies in September, and despite his lack of minutes for Chelsea this season, the attacker features in Morocco's squad heading to Qatar.

Noussair Mazraoui, who played alongside Ziyech at Ajax, is another player Regragui opted to bring back into the fold after being exiled by Halilhodzic, and the Bayern Munich defender makes the World Cup squad.

Centre-back Nayef Aguerd is in despite missing three months with an ankle injury for West Ham in pre-season while Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri is also named, Regragui undeterred by the striker failing to find the net in LaLiga this term.

Other notable names include Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi, Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, former Wolves defender Romain Saiss and Marseille's Amine Harit.

Morocco open up their World Cup campaign against Croatia on November 23 before facing Belgium four days later. Their final Group F match comes against Canada.

Morocco squad: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad Casablanca); Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Yahia Attiat Allah (Wydad Casablanca), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Achraf Dari (Stade Brest), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Romain Saiss (Besiktas); Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Bilal El Khannouss (Genk), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad Casablanca), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria); Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Soufiane Boufal (Angers), Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al Ittihad), Amine Harit (Marseille), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).

Morocco have sacked head coach Vahid Halilhodzic just three months before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed the dismissal of the Bosnian on Thursday, ending months of speculation over his future.

It is the third time Halilhodzic has been fired after securing qualification for a World Cup before the tournament gets under way, having been dismissed by the Ivory Coast before South Africa 2010 and Japan prior to Russia 2018.

The 69-year-old, who played for Yugoslavia at Spain 1982, did take charge of Algeria at the World Cup in Brazil eight years ago, but will now miss yet another major tournament.

A feud with Hakim Ziyech saw the Chelsea winger omitted from the Africa Cup of Nations this year, after Halilhodzic claimed he had feigned an injury to miss friendly internationals.

Walid Regragui in expected to be named as Halilhodzic's successor ahead of their Group F encounters with 2018 finalists Croatia, Belgium and Canada.

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